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By rashley, December 30, 2009 12:17 am

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR JOB SEARCH FOR 2010

2010 can be your best year ever.  All it takes is good planning.  Ok, and some luck and the stars aligning.  But do your part.  Plan what you can.

1. My most successful clients are extremely well organized. Few things fall into cracks and they remember names and appointments.  Some tools they use include OmniFocus for task tracking and organization. It’s pricey but you can use it in your job.   Take a look at the functionality to get an idea of what features you might want in other products.
2. You worked hard to get contact information and amass a network. Stay connected.  Know what each person on your contact list might find interesting.  Send them articles, links and announcements relevant to their interests.  Make time to find out how you can help them.
3. Keep your spirits up by doing unexpected good deeds. Make a few unasked for introductions.  Volunteer where you might meet kindred spirits.  And look for opportunities to do good deeds; even something so random and easy as carrying packages for someone or offering a compliment to a stranger lifts your spirits.
4. Clear your desk.  Take care of all that clutter and unattended mail.  Organize your finances for online payments and send your college student an unexpected check.
5. Send all your job search suits to the cleaners and buy a new pair of shoes.  Spiff up your wardrobe.  The better you look the better you feel.  Enjoy the splendor that is you.
6. Revise your resume.  It hasn’t landed you the job you want so something needs to change.  Get the closest job description to the job you want and map your resume to reflect the priorities.
7. Rework your LinkedIn Profile.  It is a marketing document, not a biography or legal document.  Create the most compelling marketing piece you can to entice readers to contact you.  Don’t forget to put your public (as in hotmail or Gmail) email address on your summary.
8. Get a new head shot that shows you in business attire. A high energy, healthy demeanor goes a long way towards convincing people you are worth a second look.  Use the head shot on all profiles.
9. Keep moving. Make some form of exercise part of your daily routine. It’s important to keep your body healthy.
10. Use hand sanitizers constantly. Stress makes you susceptible to illness.  Do what you can to ward off the evil spirits.  Take your vitamins and get plenty of rest. Don’t forget to drink lots of water.
11. Find a friend who will help you record a practice interview.  Debrief and be open to suggestions.  This is a major step in gaining the confidence you need to interview relax for the real thing.
12. Connect with others who are looking for a similar job. Swap leads. Support one another.
13. Ignore bad news.

Best of luck on refining your job search.  Read, “Job Search Debugged” for more details on what works.  If you’d like support in your search, contact me for information on coaching.

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By rashley, December 11, 2009 2:51 pm

‘Tis the Season to be Networking

If songs were much longer we wouldn’t remember them or we’d lose interest.  The format has been tried, tampered with and proven for decades.   Let’s use that characteristic in our networking.

The biggest sin in networking is boring your audience.  How many times have you been asked a simple question, like, “What do you do?” where you launch into a complete history of your employment life?

Folks stop listening after about three sentences.  More than that and whatever you say is lost.  Prepare for any encounter with just exactly the answer to the question you are asked and if you do a good job, your listener will ask you questions; which means you are interacting.

Find that hard to do?  Try repeating the question in your answer.  “I work xxx” or “What do I do?…”

Second Sin: Talking AT people is a horrible way to create a bond. Come prepared with questions and keep eye contact if you want people to remember you.  When you hear yourself TELLING people information instead of SHARING experiences, you are talking AT them.  Don’t do that.

Not sure how to cut down your spiel?  Give your answers to a twelve year old.  If they can tell you what you meant or ask a relevant question, you are on track.  If not, try again.

Learn to answer your questions with relevant stories about your experience and you will be remembered.

Happy Networking.

___________________________________________________

Give a gift that keeps on giving: Job Search Debugged for the job seekers on your gift list.

If you would like support creating your own compelling and expeditious job search, contact me. We can focus on your specific challenges and define a custom program.
My clients get hired; not brag-fact.

Perhaps you feel a proven book with field tested techniques is your first step toward an effective job search. You can download Job Search Debugged for advice that works.

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By admin, December 1, 2009 7:29 pm

Posted via email from The Job Coach–Rita Ashley

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